Car-coupling



W. SCOTT.

GAR GOUPLING.

(No Model.)

Patented Jan. 24.18 82.

UNTTTD 'STaTns aTnNT errori..

WILLIAM SCOTT, 0F MALDEN, MASSACHUSETTS.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 252,809, dated January24, 1882.

Application tiled April 19, 1881. (No model.) I

To all whom it may concern.:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM SCOTT, of Malden, in the county of Middlesexand State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Car-Couplings, ofwhich the following is a full, clear,and exact description.

This invention relates to car-couplings of that class provided withhook-shaped coupling devices arranged to rotate or turn against a springor weight, and thus to be interlocked with and disengaged from eachother.

-As to such class of couplings, this invention consists principally inthe construction ofthe draw-head and draw-barin two parts arrangedtogether for the head to swivel upon the drawbar, which is rigidlyfastened in any suitable manner to the under side of the car, allsuhstantially as hereinafter described, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of two draw-hars and draw-heads in line with eachother, but not coupled together;Fig4 2, a plan view of saine with part in longitudinal section; Fig. 3,in one part a side view, and in the other part a plan view, of thedraw-heads coupled together; v

Fig. 4, a face view of the coupling and of a draw-head; Fig. 5, asection on line x a', Fig. 3; Fig. 6, a plan view of the under side ot'one draw-bar; and Fig. 7, a side view of saine, showing its constructionfor the reception of' an ordinary shaclrlingpin with the ordinaryshaekling-link. l

In the drawings, A A represent two dra-wbars, each to be attached to acar in the ordinary manner; B B', the draw-heads to the draw-bars A A',respectively. These drawheads constitute the coupling devices proper,and they are constructed and arranged as follows: Each draw-head isswiveled upon the end of its draw-bar so as to freely turn or revolvethereon, and yet he held from escape or detachment-as, for instance, byand through a shouldered pin, a, of the draw-bar and a shoulderedsocket, b, of the draw head, (see Fig. 2,) or vice versa.

U is a bent spring, at one end fixed to the draw-bar and at the otherand free end, d, interlocked with a notch, e, in the end of thedraw-head which is toward the draw-bar. This spring C is protected oneach side by a tlange shown as on the one side thereof at n inFig. 1 andas on both sides thereof at n n in Fig. 6. The turning or rotation ofthe drauhead in the one direction is against this spring G and in theother direction with its reaction, and obviously a coiled or spir`alspring in lieu ot' a bent spring may be readily applied and secure thesame effect.

`Each draw-head is provided with two hooks, D D', of similar shape.These hooks are arranged in porition diainetrically opposite, orsubstantially so, and each hook of each draw head has a shoulder orabutincnnff, which shoulders as to the hooks of each draw-head projectin opposite directions, and from such shoulders each hook at its forwardpart has a curved or cani-shaped end face, g g', which faces' as to thetwo hooks of each draw-head run in opposite direct-ions, and within orbeyond the shouhlers or abutinents of the hooks each hook has a shape,as shown at h h in the I drawings, to .receive the forward part, l l',ot' the corresponding hook of the draw-head on the adjoining car, and toallow an interlock between the abutments or shoulders ff of such hookswhen the saine are brought together.

In bringing together cars provided with the coupling described thecam-shaped faces g g of the Lipper and of the lower coupling-hooksrespectively abut against eachother, and under such abutment thedraw-heads are rotated upon their respective draw-bars, but in oppositedirections, and in this case each against their spring C until by thecontinued movement ot' the, cars toward each other the hooks of the onecar pass by and into the space or opening E between the hooks and abutagainst the draw-head ofthe other ear, and thus they are severallybrought into position under the reaction of their springs to beinterlocked at their shoulders or abutnients fj", the upper hooks andthe lower hooks respectively with each other, which secures the couplingtogether of the two cars, all as is obvious without further description.

To nncouple cars coupled together as above described, it is onlynecessary to rotate or turn either one or the other of the swiveleddrawheads against their spring' sufficient to place the hooks of suchdraw-head out of interlock with the hooks of the other draw-head, whichbrings them into the space or opening E bc- IOO tween the hooks of theother draw-head, and thus int-o a position to allow the cars to be drawnapart without interference between the hooks of their respectiveldraw-heads, when, on then releasing the draw-heads by the reaction oftheir spring C, they will return to their nor'- inal position to beagain coupled together. For convenience in so operating the draw-heads,each draw-head is provided with a handle-lever, F, with which isconnected one end ot' a chain, Gr, secured at its other end at or nearthe top of the car, and thus in the uncoupling of cars the coupling canbe operated as readily and easily from the top ofthe ear as from theground.

Gars coupled together as above described are secure against detachmentin running as the throw ot' the cars in any direction, either upward ordownward, or to the right or left, is resisted in each case by theabutment of the hook or hooks ofthe one drawAhead against the hook orhooks of the other draw-heatL-as for instance, in the upward throw of acar the upper side of its lower hook strikes against the under side ot'the upper hook of the adjoining car. Again, in the downward throw ofacar the under side ofthe upper hook abuts against lthe upper side of thelower hook of the adjoin-A ing car; and again in a throw sidewise ofeither car the separation ot' the hooks of the two cars is prevented bythe side abutmvnts of the hooks ot1 the one against those of the otherand in opposite directions.

The swiveling ot' the draw head to the drawbar, as above described, isapplcable as well to draw-bars provided with a single couplinghook inlieuot'two, asherein particularly shown, and obviously a rotary couplingmade for the coupling-head to rotate or swivel upon the draw-bar will bepractically free from a bind of the parts, is cheap, is easily iliadeand adapted, and is effective in operation.

In Figs. 2, 6, and 7 thecoupling-hooksD D are shown as each providedwith a hole,m, through or in their thickness, which holes are in linewith each other, and thus this coupling is adapt ed to receive theshacklingpin of a car-coup ling having a sha-eklinglink, H, shouldoccasion require the coupling ot' such a ear with a car having acoupling ot' the present improved form, all as shown in Fig. 7 moreparticularly. This feature is also adaptable to couplings ot' this classhaving only one couplinghook, in which case it would be only necessaryto provide a rest of some kind t'or the link and lower end ot' the pin.

More than two eouplinglhooks foreach drawhead may be employed, if sodesired, but two are sutcient to secure the safety ot' the parts of thecoupling from accidental detachment and escape.

In lien of using springs for the return of the coupling-hooks, asdescribed, weights may be employed, but sprin gs are obviouslypreferable.

I am aware that a car-coupling com posed ofa coupling-hook which is atthe end of a draw-bar arranged upon the car to turn in hearings thereofis not new; adapted to rotate or turn is not new; and that also it isnot new to combine therewith a bumper' for the abutment of the end ofthe coupling-hooks upon the adjoining ears when two cars are broughttogether to be coupled.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, 1s

1. A rotary car-coupling composed of a stationary draw-bar, A, and ot' ahead, B, which is swiveled to the draw-bar and is provided withone ormore cam-shaped hooks, D,in combination with a spring or weight,constructed and arranged together, to operate substantially asdescribed.

2. A rotary car-coupling composed of a sta.- tionary draw-bar, A, andot' a draw-head, B, which is swiveled to the draw-bar and is providedwith one or more cam-shaped hooks, D, in combination with a bent spring,C, attached to the draw-head and draw-bar and protected on each side byflanges n n of the draw-bar, all substantially as described.

In testimony whereof' I have hereunto set my hand in the presence ot'two subscribing witnesses.

VILLIAM SCOTT.

\\Titnesses:

EDWIN W. BROWN, WM. S. BELLoWs.

